Gangs
Crimes committed by, for the benefit of, in association with, or at the direction of active criminal street gang members are prosecuted by experienced attorneys dedicated to achieving justice in these cases. Even though Ventura County is consistently ranked as one of the safest counties in the western United States, many violent criminal street gangs pose an ongoing threat to local residents. The crimes committed by those involved in gang activity may include vandalism, burglary, robbery, extortion, assault with a deadly weapon, trafficking in controlled substances, and murder. While the intended targets of such crimes may often be other gang members, the collateral risk and trauma caused by these crimes to innocent bystanders and the community as a whole mandate that all provable cases be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. For these reasons, the prosecutors and investigators assigned to handle gang cases are among the most experienced…
August 11, 2020
Announcement Regarding People v. DeAngelo
August 6, 2020
VENTURA, California – District Attorney Gregory D. Totten alerts the public to the following announcement from the Sacramento County Superior Court.
August 6, 2020 (Corrected)
20-071 Enns (Frye) Plea
August 6, 2020
VENTURA, California –District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Kevin Jacob Enns (DOB 3/10/75), of Ventura, pled guilty to one felony count of embezzlement of public funds pursuant to Penal Code section 424.
Bureau of Investigation
The Bureau of Investigation’s (BOI) more than 40 investigators provide professional investigative support in both criminal and civil matters to prosecutors handling cases in those areas and play a critical role in preparing cases for prosecution. The Bureau is staffed with a chief investigator, two deputy chief investigators, district attorney investigators, welfare fraud investigators, and investigative assistants.
August 5, 2020
VENTURA, California – District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Alexis Ramirez (DOB 10/23/89), of Oxnard, was sentenced to 16 years to life in prison by Judge Gilbert Romero. On July 8, 2020, Ramirez pled guilty to second degree murder with the use of a knife and for the benefit of a criminal street gang for the January 17, 2009, killing of Alfredo Vargas, also of Oxnard.
Criminal Prosecutions
Criminal Prosecutions, with 65 attorneys, is the largest division within the District Attorney’s Office and is responsible for reviewing complaints, filing charges, and prosecuting the majority of felony and misdemeanor crimes occurring within Ventura County. Criminal Prosecutions encompasses the Major Crimes, General Felony, Misdemeanor, and Sexual Assault / Family Protection Units. Together, attorneys in these units prosecute the majority of the approximately 25,000 criminal cases reviewed each year by the District Attorney’s Office. The chief deputy district attorney of Criminal Prosecutions directly supervises the Major Crimes Unit, which handles homicides and other significant cases. Dedicated attorney supervisors oversee the other units and report to the chief deputy. The chief deputy serves as liaison to the civil and criminal grand juries, and addresses law enforcement and criminal justice issues on numerous other countywide committees.
General Prosecutions
General Prosecutions is responsible for assisting prosecutors, investigators and support staff in fulfilling the mission of the District Attorney’s Office to promote justice and protect the citizens of Ventura County. Overseen by a chief deputy district attorney, this division provides a wide range of services to support the operational needs of the District Attorney’s Office. Administrative Services includes the Information Technology Unit; Clerical Support Services; and the Fiscal, Administrative and Legislative Services Unit. The dedicated men and women in these units work behind the scenes to accomplish the critical functions that keep the office running. The division meets the computer and networking needs of the largest law office in the county, provides the clerical support necessary to handle more than 15,000 criminal cases each year, administers the operating budget, and provides human resources support to approximately 250 employees. In addition, Administrative Services manages facilities in seven locations, administers numerous grant…
Justice Services
Justice Services encompasses a number of functions essential to securing justice to crime victims and the community. These include the Writs, Appeals and Training Unit and the Public Integrity Unit. Justice Services is managed by the Special Assistant District Attorney, who serves as the Conviction Integrity deputy. The Special Assistant also prepares legal opinions on miscellaneous subjects, prepares and edits some of our office publications, handles special civil law matters, responds to Public Records Act requests and civil subpoenas, processes requests for U Visa certifications, analyzes misconduct issues under Brady v. Maryland, and enforces Brown Act open-meeting laws. The Special Assistant serves as liaison on the Brown Act and other civil law and municipal law matters to local government attorneys who are advising the county’s ten incorporated cities and its dozens of special districts.